The Unwanted Wife Is A Medical Genius

Elinor Perez sat perfectly still on the velvet sofa.

The wall clock in the Corbett penthouse ticked past midnight. The sound echoed in the massive, minimalist living room. Her back was straight. Her hands rested on her lap. She had been waiting for three hours.

The heavy mahogany door clicked open. The sound broke the dead silence of the penthouse.

Gavin Corbett stepped inside. His tailored charcoal suit was slightly damp from the New York drizzle. The cold air from the hallway followed him in.

Elinor stood up immediately. A habitual, warm smile formed on her face. It was the smile she had practiced and perfected over three years of marriage.

She stepped forward to take his coat. She reached out her hand, her fingers brushing the damp wool of his sleeve.

Gavin sharply sidesteps her touch.

The movement was fast. Brutal. His expression was entirely unreadable. His jaw was set in a hard, rigid line.

Elinor froze. Her hand hovered in mid-air. A sudden drop in temperature hit her skin. A flash of hurt crossed her eyes, but she quickly blinked it away.

Gavin didn't look at her. He pulled a thick manila envelope from his leather briefcase.

He tossed the envelope onto the glass coffee table. It landed with a heavy thud. The sound vibrated through the glass and straight into Elinor's chest.

Elinor stared at the envelope. A sudden chill ran down her spine. The fine hairs on her arms stood up. Her stomach contracted sharply.

Gavin unbuttoned his collar. His movements were precise. Mechanical. His voice was devoid of any warmth when he finally spoke.

"Our three-year arrangement has reached its conclusion."

Elinor felt the air leave her lungs. It was as if an invisible fist had punched her in the diaphragm. Her fingers trembled slightly at her sides. She curled them into fists to hide the shaking.

She slowly reached down. The glass table felt like ice against her knuckles. She slid the documents out of the envelope.

The bold words stared back at her: Divorce Settlement Agreement.

The black ink blurred for a fraction of a second. Elinor looked up. Her throat felt tight, lined with sandpaper. Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Why?"

Gavin met her gaze coldly. His dark eyes held no hesitation. No guilt.

"Bella has returned to the city."

The mention of Bella's name struck Elinor like a physical blow to the chest. She took a sharp step back. Her breathing hitched.

Gavin continued, his tone flat and businesslike. "I owe Bella. I need to fulfill my promise to her. You knew this was temporary, Elinor."

Elinor tightened her grip on the papers. The sharp edges of the thick paper dug into her palms. The sting grounded her. It kept her upright.

A faint scent drifted from his damp coat. It wasn't the smell of rain. It was a signature floral perfume. Bella's perfume.

She took a shaky breath. She forced the tears back down her throat. The lump in her airway felt like a swallowed stone. She refused to cry in front of him.

Gavin pointed to the financial clauses on the second page.

"The payout is generous. You won't have to worry about money for the rest of your life. The penthouse in Tribeca is yours. The liquid assets-"

Elinor ignored the numbers. She didn't look at the zeros. Her eyes scanned his face. She searched the hard lines of his jaw, the cold depth of his eyes, looking for any sign of hesitation. Any sign that the last three years meant something.

She found nothing. Only cold resolve.

A profound disillusionment settled over her. The frantic beating of her heart slowed down to a dull, heavy thud. The warmth drained from her body.

She picked up a silver pen resting on the table. The metal was heavy and cold.

Without reading a single financial term, she flipped to the last page. She signed her name on the dotted line. The ink flowed smoothly. Her signature was steady.

Gavin frowned slightly. A small crease appeared between his brows. He was surprised by her lack of resistance. He expected tears. He expected a negotiation. Her quick compliance threw him off balance.

Elinor dropped the pen. The metallic clink echoed in the quiet room.

"I will pack my things and leave by morning."

Her voice was steady now. The tremor was gone.

Elinor turned her back on him. She walked toward the master bedroom. Her spine was straight. She didn't look back.